Fast Food UK - The Rapid Growth of the Takeaway Poses Issues for Society

There are now around 57,000 fast-food takeaway outlets in England and the number is rising quickly, according to new research.

No wonder services like Deliveroo and Just Eat are thriving!

You can find out how many takeaways there are in your area using this interactive data map from the Guardian.

Leaving aside the entrepreneurial spirit in evidence from the opening of around 4,000 takeaways in the last three years alone, the rapid growth of fast-food has potentially significant societal implications.

The data suggests that heaviest concentrations of fast food are found in England’s poorest and most deprived neighbourhoods - which in turn may help to explain the increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes, particularly amongst the poorer members of society.

What can be done about this? Should the retail market be left unregulated and takeaways be permitted to flourish?

Or should there be restrictions on how many takeaways can operate in a particular location?